Analysis: The president’s decision follows a pattern of seeking to undermine institutions, and his views are no longer on the fringe

The release of the “Nunes memo” confirms Donald Trump’s willingness to burn down America’s institutions to save his own skin. But unlike in the era of Richard Nixon, the Republican resistance to such tactics is all but dead.

The memo was written by aides to Republican​ Devin Nunes, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, a staunch defender of Donald Trump and member of Trump’s transition team. The committee is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, but the inquiry has devolved into a partisan fight about the ​separate FBI investigation​, now​ led by special counsel Robert Mueller​.